Mower construction



Feb. 15, 1966 w. A. WATHEN 3,234,718

MOWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l .i ...l 1*. i

W. A. WATHEN MOWER CONSTRUCTION Feb. 15, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1962 INVENTOFL Feb. 15, 1966 Vw. A. WATHEN 3,234,718

MOWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 28. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR.

Feb. 15, 1966 w. A. wATHEN 3,234,713

MOWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2%( l INVENTOR.

QW/wg United States Patent O 3,234,718 MOWER CONSTRUCTION William A. Wathen, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Massey- Ferguson lne., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 240,541 18 Claims. (Cl. 56-25) This invention relates to mowers and similar implements of the type adapted to be pivotally mounted on a tractor for swinging movement between a lowered mowing or other work-performing position and a lifted transport position and, in particular, relates to a lift control mechanism including a gag linkage for controlling the movement of a side mounted mower between such aforementioned positions.

Referring by way of example particularly to side mounted mowers of the type to which the present invention specically although not exclusively pertains and which have been used extensively in past years for mowing grass, weeds and the like, such side mounted mowers typically comprise a mower frame including a drag bar adapted to have one end thereof suitably pivotally connected to one side of a wheeled vehicle, such as an agricultural tractor, so as to extend transversely therefrom for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transport position, cutter bar including a cooperating reciprocable sickle blade pivotally mounted on the other end of the drag bar for swinging movement independently of and relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position, a suitable mower drive mechanism such as a pitman drive operatively connected to the aforementioned sickle blade to reciprocate the latter relative to the cutter bar, and a selectively operable or adjustable lift control mechanism connected to the aforementioned drag bar and cutter bar to control lifting and lowering movement thereof in substantial unison between the aforementioned lowered mowing and lifted transport positions of the drag bar, such control mechanism including a gag linkage operatively connected between the drag bar and cutter bar to permit swinging movement of the latter independently of actuation of the lift control mechanism in the event that the cutter bar should strike an obstruction during mowing, or to swing the cutter bar between its lowered mowing and road transport positions relative to the drag bar. Thus, lift control mechanisms including the gag linkages thereof of the type aforementioned have been operable to dispose the drag bar and cutter bar in their lowered relative mowing position while permitting swinging movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar in such position to facilitate travel of the cutter bar over obstructions on the ground, while being operable to lift the drag bar-cutter bar combination from the ground to a eld transport position in which the cutter bar may be further moved to a road transport position relative to the drag bar independently of actuation of the lift control mechamsm.

More specifically, one form of gag linkage of such a lift control mechanism has been of the toggle-type including a pair of gag links respectively operatively pivotally connected to the drag bar and cutter bar while being pivotally interconnected to permit a breaking or overcenter action of such latter pivotal connection with respect to the aforementioned pivotal -connections to the drag bar and cutter bar. Thus, under normal operating conditions and with the drag bar and cutter bar in the lowered mowing positions thereof, the gag linkage may be disposed taut or with its pivot connections in a substantially aligned or dead center relationship to suspend the cutter bar from the drag bar for a mowing operation 3,234,718 Patented F el. 15, 1966 ICC while, at the same time, in the event the cutter bar strikes an obstruction over which it must ride, the gag linkage is capable of breaking in one direction or the other from the dead center position to permit upward swinging movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar. In addition, the lift control mechanism may be operated to lift the drag bar and the cutter bar from the lowered mowing positions thereof to the lifted transport position of the drag bar during which operation such a gag linkage will again be in a substantially dead center position to suspend and hold the cutter bar on the drag bar in a eld transport position and, following such a lifting operation, the cutter bar may be further swung upwardly relative to the drag bar to a road transport position merely by breaking the gag linkage from its dead center position in one direction or the other.

However, in such prior lift control mechanisms, the gag linkage thereof has been relatively unrestrained with respect to controlling upward movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar independently of actuation of the lift control mechanism itself. More specifically, with the lift control mechanism operated to lower the drag bar and cutter bar to their lowered mowing positions as aforedescribed, the gag linkage in its substantially dead center position will limit downward swinging movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar, but has been capable of relatively unrestrained movement from such a dead center position to a broken or overcenter position in response to the drag bar. While upward swinging movement of the cutter 'bar relative to the drag bar is required for proper operation of the mowing mechanism in order to permit the cutter bar to rise over obstructions engaged thereby during a mowing operation and the gag linkage has been specifically designed to permit such movement of the cutter bar, under certain conditions it is possible for the cutter bar to swing upwardly relative to the drag bar to an inordinate extent which results in damage to the mower itself and can even result in serious injury to the operator of the vehicle on which the mower is mounted.

For example, as the vehicle on which the mower is mounted traverses rough and irregular terrain during a mowing operation as is quite often the case, dynamic forces imposed upon the vehicle and mower due to the bouncing action thereof can result in a situation in which the vehicle strikes a bump or other obstruction resulting in an upward force on the vehicle and mower which causes the cutter Ibar of the latter to continue swinging upwardly as the vehicle falls on the other side of the obstruction or bump, with the end result that the cutter bar m-ay continue to swing up even to a substantially vertical position relative to the drag bar and even therebeyond. As will be readily apparent to those acquainted with this art, such extreme upward swinging movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar can result in the shoe construction or usual guide members located at the outer free end of the cutter bar striking the operator of the tractor on which the mower is mounted. Furthermore, where the mower drive mechanism is of the well known pitman type characterized by a pitman drive rod or arm drivingly connecting a power driven crank with the sickle blade on the cutter rbar, such extreme relative movement of the cutter bar and hence the sickle blade carried thereby relative to the drag bar can result in bending or twisting the pitman drive rod or arm between its connections to the sickle blade and its crank, thereby necessitating replacement of such pitman rod or arm.

In view of the foregoing considerations, the present invention is directed to a mower or the like of the type aforementioned including a drag bar having one end thereof adapted to be operatively pivotally connected to a wheeled vehicle so as to extend transversely therefrom for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transport position, a cutter bar including the usual reciprocable sickle blade pivotally connected to the other end of the drag bar for swinging movement relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position, and a lift control mechanism operatively connected to the aforementioned drag bar and cutter bar and being selectively adjustable to control swinging movement of the drag bar and cutter bar in substantial unison between the aforementioned positions of the drag bar, while permitting completely controlled swinging movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar in any position of the latter.

More specifically in this regard, the lift control mechanism is particularly characterized by gag linkage means provi-ding controlled swinging movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar independently of actuation of the lift control mechanism, and comprising a pair of gag links, means including a lost motion connection operatively pivotally connecting one end of one of the gag links to the drag bar, means operatively pivotally connecting one end of the other of the gag links to the cutter bar, and means pivoally interconnecting the other ends of the gag links for movement between a dead center or overcenter vlocking position and an unlocking position relative to the operative pivotal connections of the gag links to the drag bar and cutter bar, whereby the cutter bar in a lowered mowing position thereof and with the gag linkage in the locking position thereof may swing relative to the drag bar member to a predetermined limited extent, and with the gag linkage moved to its unlocking position the cutter bar may be swung upwardly to a lifted road transport position relative to the drag bar.

The invention is further characterized by cooperably engageable stop means associated with the aforementioned gag links to prevent movement of the gag links in one direction from the dead center or overcenter locking position thereof, and selectively operable latch means operable between the gag links to maintain the latter in the locking position thereof with the aforementioned stop means engaged, thereby insuring that movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar will be limited to a predetermined extent until such latch means is disengaged as, for example, when preparing to raise the cutter bar to its road transport position relative to the drag bar.

The lift control mechanism of this invention is further particularly characterized by a lift control lever pivotally mounted on the drag bar and operatively connected to the aforesaid gag linkage means, and stop means on the drag bar engageable with the lift control lever upon pivotal movement of the latter to a predetermined extent in one direction whereby, with the gag linkage means in the locking position thereof and the stop means engaging the lift control lever, the cutter bar in the lowered mowing position thereof mayv swing relative to the drag bar to a predetermined limited extent, and with the gag linkage means in the unlocking position thereof the cutter bar may be swung to its lifted road transport position relative to the drag bar member, the lift control mechanism being selectively adjustable to engage the lift control lever with the aforementioned stop means to control raising and lowering movement of the drag bar and cutter bar in substantial unison between the lowering mowing and lifted transport positions of the drag bar.

In this regard, the invention is more specically characterized by the fact that the lift control mechanism further includes a pair of relatively reciprocable members operatively connected between the aforementioned lift control lever and the vehicle on which the mower is mounted, spring means acting between the aforementioned relatively reciprocable members in any selected adjusted position of the lift control mechanism to continuously urge such members in one direction relative to each other and the lift control lever in one direction toward the aforementioned stop means on the drag bar to yieldably suspend the drag bar and cutter bar in the mowing positions thereof, and cooperating stop means on the aforementioned reciprocable members limiting movement thereof in the opposite direction and, hence, movement of the lift control lever away from the stop means on the drag bar to limit downward swinging movement of the drag bar and cutter bar,

In another of its aspects, the invention is further characterized by mounting means adapted to detachably pivotally connect one end of the drag bar member opposite its connection to the cutter bar to a vehicle so as to extend transversely therefrom for swinging movement relative thereto, such mounting means comprising a support adapted to be rigidly secured to a vehicle and including saddle means having an axis extending substantially longitudinally of the latter, bearing means secured to such one end of the drag bar and adapted to be removably pivotally seated within the saddle means, a latch member pivotally mounted on the support and including a retaining means at one end thereof cooperable with the saddle means to removably retain the bearing means within the latter, and means at the other end of the latch member for releasably locking the latter to the support with the bearing means pivotally retained Within and between the aforementioned retaining and saddle means.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary top plan view of a side mounted mower constructed in accordance with this invention and installed on an agricultural tractor indicated in dotted lines the mower being disposed in a lower mowing position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the tractor and mower of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding generally to FIGURE 3, but illustrates an extreme lifted position of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar of the mower in the mowing positions thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- URE 3, but illustrates the mower including the drag bar and cutter bar thereof in a eld transport position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding generally to FIGURE 5, but illustrates the relative positions of the mower drag bar and cutter bar in moving the latter from the field transport position of FIGURE 5 to a road transport position.

Referring now to the drawings, a side mounted mower construction is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a cutter bar ll2 of conventional construction mounting the usual sickle blade 14- for reciprocation thereon and including a head member 16 including the groundengaging skid or shoe I8 at one end thereof pivotally hinged in the usual manner as indicated at 2t) to the respective arms of a yoke Z2 adjustably mounted in the usual manner about the axis of one end of a drag bar 24. The other end of the drag bar is suitably pivotally connected as indicated at 26 to a bearing member including the bearing Shaft or pin 28 adapted to be detachably pivotally connected within a mounting mechanism indicated generally at 3i) in FIGURES l, 3 and 5 carried beneath the frame of a suitable vehicle, such as a conventional agricultural tractor, indicated generally at 32 and illustrated in dotted lines.

More specifically, the mounting mechanism 3f) comprises an integral support plate 34 adapated to be suitably rigidly secured beneath the tractor frame and including at one end thereof a pair of longitudinally spaced depending brackets 36 each terminating in an upwardly opening hook-shaped saddle member 38 and, at the other end thereof, a pair of spaced locking brackets 40. An integral latch member includes a pair of latch arms 42 embracing and respectively pivotally connected intermediate their ends as indicated at 44 to the brackets 36, and each including a downwardly opening hook-shaped retaining member 46 and being rigidly interconnected at the other ends thereof. A suitable fastener swivelly mounts a locking lug 48 on the latch lever, the lug being thus adapted to be removably engaged upon the locking brackets 40.

Thus, it Will be appreciated that the latch lever construction including the arms 42 are adapted to be pivoted counterclockwise in either of FIGURES 3 and 5 to move the retaining members 46 away from the saddle members 38 to permit removably seating the bearing shaft or pin 28 within the latter. At this time, the latch member may be pivoted to the position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5 and the lug 48 seated upon the locking brackets and tightened thereagainst to confine the bearing shaft or pin between the respective saddle and retaining members for pivotal movement about an axis extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor 32. Conversely, the drag bar 24 and cutter bar 12 attached thereto may be readily disconnected from the tractor by a reverse operation as will be readily apparent.

A conventional breakaway strut construction is indicated generally at 50 in FIGURES 1 and 2 and comprises a iirst strut member 52 suitably pivotally coupled as indicated at 54 to the yoke 22 and telescopically received by a second strut member 56 suitably removably swivelly connected as indicated at 50 to a depending arm 60 fixed to a mounting plate 62 adapted to be suitably rigidly secured to the tractor 32 along one forward side thereof. A conventional automatically engageable and disengageable spring biased breakaway latch is indicated generally at 64 and comprises the usual latch arm 66 having one end thereof pivotally mounted on the first strut member 52 as indicated at 68, and the other end adapted for releasable latching engagement with a latching pin or lug carried by the second strut member 56. The usual spring 72 is mounted on the first strut member and engages latch arm 66 to bias the latter into engagement with the pin or lug 70. The breakaway strut construction has the usual function of normally maintaining the drag bar 24 and the cutter bar 12 in transversely extending relation relative to the tractor 32 as illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings while, in response to a predetermined load imposed upon the cutter bar and drag bar by an obstruction or the like, the latch arm 66 overcomes the force of the spring 72 and disengages from the lug or pin 70 to permit the cutter bar and drag bar to swing rearwardly about the axis of the pivotal connection 26 of the drag bar to the bearing pin or shaft 26. The latch is automatically re-engageable merely by backing the tractor to a suitable extent to cam the latch arm 66 back up over the latch lug or pin 70.

The drive mechanism for the sickle blade 14 is yof conventional construction and comprises the pitman rod or arm 74 universally connected at 76 to the sickle vblade and pivotally connected at 78 to a conventional rotatable crank 80 driven by a shaft 82 rotatably disposed within the drag arm 24 and connected through a universal joint 86 to one end of a conventional power-take-off shaft assembly 88 having its other end connected through the universal joint 90 to a rear mounted power-take-off drive mechanism 92, it being understood that other power-take-otf drive mechanisms such as side mounted or front mounted may, of course, be employed. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the conventional power-take-off shaft assembly 88 including the universal joint connections at either end thereof permits free breakaway swinging movement of the drag bar and cutter bar to the left in FIGURE l in the event of release 4of the breakaway latch as previously described, due in particular to the splined relatively 6 reciprocable connection between the conventional ele ments of the power-take-off shaft assembly.

The lift control mechanism indicated generally at 94 comprises, with particular reference to FIGURES 3 to 7, a gag linkage including a gag link 96 having one end suitably pivotally connected as indicated at 98 to an upstanding arm 100 secured to the cutter bar head 16, and the other end pivotally connected at 102 to -one end of a second gag link 104 having suitably elongate slots 106 in the other end thereof slidably and pivotally connected about pins 108 carried at one end of a bell-crank type lift control lever 110 pivotally connected at 112 on the drag bar 24 on an axis substantially parallel with the axes of pivotal connections 20, 98, 102 and 108. A lift and stop pin 114 extends from the drag bar 24 into the path of pivotal movement of the lift control lever 110 for a purpose to be describe-d hereinafter.

The other end of the lift control lever 110 is pivotally connected through a chain or the like 116 to one end of a bell-crank type lever assembly 118 pivotally journaled as indicated at 120 on the mounting plate 62, While the other end thereof is pivotally connected at 122 to one end of a rod 124 having an adjustable head 126 reciprocably disposed within a cylindrical housing 128, a spring being disposed and -acting between the head 126 and `one end 132 of the cylindrical housing 128 through which rod 124 extends. As will be further apparent hereinafter, with the housing 128 disposed in any selected adjusted position, spring 130 continuously urges the lever assembly 118 clockwise in FIGURE 2 and the lift control lever 110 clockwise in FIGURES 3 through 5 and 7 toward the lift and stop pin 114, while the spring yieldably cushions movement of the lever assembly 118 and iift control lever in the opposite directions as limited by engagement of a stop member 134 on rod 124 with the end 132 of housing 128. The other end of the housing 128 is suitably pivotally connected to a lever arm 136 suitably pivotally journaled lon the tractor 32 and pivotally driven by a drive arm 138 adapted to be universally pivotally connected 'as indicated at 140 to one end of one of the upper links 142 of a known rear draft mechanism on the tractor, the other end of such upper links being pivotally connected in the usual manner to lower links 144 thereof. As will be appreciated, a suitable hydraulic mechanism is provided on the tractor for actuating the draft mechanism aforedescribed to pivot the lever arm 136 in one direction or the other and to hold it in any selected adjusted position, which motion is transmitted through the housing 128, spring 130, rod 124, lever assembly 118 and chain 116 to the lift control lever 110 and gag links 104 and 96.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 4- and 7, the respective gag links 96 and 104 include cooperable stop members 146 and 148, respectively, including stop surfaces 150 which are engageable in the locking position of the gag linkage as illustrated particularly in FIGURES 3 through 5 to positively prevent breaking of the gag linkage in one direction or downwardly in the aforementioned iigures of the drawing, while permitting breaking of the linkage to an unlocking position upwardly or in the opposite direction when desired and in the manner to be described hereinafter. In this regard, in the locking position of the gag linkage forming, in effect, a rigid strut connection between the pivotal connections 98 and 108, these latter pivotal connections are illustrated in the drawings as being substantially dead center or aligned with the pivotal interconnection 102 of the gag links with the stop surfaces 150 engaged. However, and if desired, it will be readily appreciated that the pivotal interconnection 102 of the gag links may be disposed somewhat olf or overcenter downwardly in FIGURES 3 to 5 with respect to the pivotal connections 98 and 108 and as determined by engagement of the stop surfaces 150 to form an even more positive lock. In any event, due particularly to a latch construction to be described, the respective three point pivotal connections of the gag links aforementioned may be substantially aligned and still provide a very positive locking position for the gag linkage preventing any inadvertent breaking movement thereof from the locking to the unlocking position as aforedescribed.

The latch mechanism for the gag linkage comprises a yieldable spring latch clip 152 having one end thereof suitably secured as indicated at 154 to the gag link 104 so as to extend over and against the stop member 146 on the gag link 96 to continuously bias the stop member 146 toward the stop member 143 in the locking position of the gag linkage as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. As referred to above, the yieldable force of the latch clip 152 is selected so as to be suicient to positively prevent inadvertent upward breaking movement of the gag linkage from the positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 even through the pivotal interconnection of the gag links is substantially dead center with the pivotal connections thereof to the lift lever and cutter bar. A relatively rigid latch release bail includes a coiled bight portion 156 surrounding and of greater diameter than a corresponding portion of the gag link 96 so as to be freely pivotal about the axis `of the latter, and terminates in a leg 158 adapted to be selectively engaged within a detent groove 160 at the free end of the latch clip 152.

During mowing operations as will be described, the latch release 4bail will be free of the latch clip 152 and hang from gag link 96 as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. In the event that it is desired to move the cutter bar to a road transport position, the latch release bail may be rotated to the position of -FIGURES 5 and 6 so as to engage the detent groove 160 in the latch clip 152 to bias the latter upwardly from the pivotal connection 102 and stop member 146, whereby the free end of the cutter lbar 12 may .be engaged manually and lifted vertically upwardly to a road transport position relative to the drag bar while the gag linkage breaks upwardly from the position of FIGURES 5 and 6 to that of FIGURE 7. As the gag linkage so breaks, the latch release bail automatically moves out of the detent groove 160 and is free to swing downwardly about the gag link 96 to the position shown in FIGURE 7 whereby, upon subsequently dropping the cutter bar from a road transport to a mowing position relative to the drag bar 24, the st-op member 146 is free to rcam against the yieldable spring latch clip 152 back into a locking position with the other gag link stop member 148 as illustrated in FIGURES 3 through 5, at which time the latch clip retains the gag links in their locking position as aforedescribed.

`Referring now to the operation of the lift control mechanism `94, it will rst be noted that FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate the drag bar 24 and -cutter bar 12 in their lowered mowing positions relative to each other and the tractor 36. These Ipositions have been assumed in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter due to actuation of the hydraulic control system and the draft mechanism of the tractor as previously referred to, and the hydraulic system then placed in a hold condition to suspend the drag -bar and cutter bar. FIGURE 3 illustrates one extreme position vof the gag link 104 relative to the lift control lever 110 due to the tendency of the cutter bar and its weight to pivot the cutter bar head 16 clockwise in FIGURE 3 about its pivotal connection to the drag bar yoke 22, and in which position one end of the slots 106 engage with the pivot pins 108 on the lift control lever. In this position, and as the vehicle traverses rough and irregular terrain and the mowing operation is conducted, the spring 130 yieldably suspends the drag bar and cutter bar against downward swinging movement thereof and as limited by engagement of the stop member 134 with the cooperable end 132 of the cylindrical housing 12S. FIGURE 4 illustrates the other extreme position of gag link 104 relative to lift control lever 110 and also the extreme upper limit of movement of the cutter bar relative to the drag bar in the lowered mowing positions thereof. Thus, due to dyn-amic forces or otherwise, any tendency of the cutter bar 12 to swing upwardly to an undesired extent relative to and about the pivotal connection 2t? to the drag bar yoke 22 permits the spring 136) to extend within the housing 12S to the extent permitted by engagement of the lift control lever with the stop and lift pin 114, the gag link 1114 being capable of moving relative to the lift control lever until the other ends of the slots 106 engage the pivot pins 198 on the lift control lever. Thus, in the lowered mowing positions of the drag bar and cutter bar as illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4, the spring 1319 yieldably suspends the drag bar and cutter bar within limits dened by stop and lift pin 114 and stop member 134, while the gag links 96 and 1114 in the locking position thereof and the lost motion connection comprising the slots 106 and pivot pins 108 on the lift control lever provide a positive predetermined limit of relative swinging movement of the cutter bar upwardly and downwardly relative to the drag bar in any selected adjusted position of the lift control mechanism. As a consequence, while the cutter bar is permitted to float to ride over obstructions or the like, it is impossible for the cutter bar to move, and particularly upwardly, relative to the drag bar to any extent which would cause forces, particularly of a compressive nature, to act upon the pitman arm 74 to twist, bend or otherwise damage the latter, and to positively prevent the possibility of the cutter bar moving toward a substantially vertical position in which the vehicle o-perator might be seriously injured.

At this juncture, it will now be appreciated that the gag linkage may -be moved to the unlocking position of FIG- URE 7 as aforedescribed and the cutter bar 12 swung upwardly to a road. transport position relative to the drag bar 24 irrespective of whether the latter is in the lowered mowing position of FIGURES 3 and 4 or in the transport position of FIGURES 5 and 7. However, for the purpose of this illustration, it will be assumed that the cutter bar will be moved to its road transport position after lifting the drag bar to its transport position as illustrated in vFIG- URES 5 and 7.

Thus, when it is desired to lift the drag bar 24 and cutter bar 12 from the lowered mowing position of FIGURE 3 to the field transport position of FIGURE 5, the hydraulic control system on the tractor is operated to actuate the draft linkage thereof to pivot the lever arm 136 rearwardly in FIGURE l, which motion is transmitted -through the housing 123, spring 130, rod 124, bell-crank lever assembly 118 and chain 1116 to the lift control lever 11@ to pivot the latter clockwise in FIGURES 3 and 5. In response to actuation of the lift control mechanism in this manner, the lift control lever 110 will move against the lift and stop pin 114, at which time continued pivotal movement of the lift control lever acting against the pin will bodily lift the drag bar 24 to the position of FIG- URE 5, the gag linkage of course forming a rigid link between the lift lever and the cutter bar to move the latter upwardly in unison to the position of FIGURE 5. In this position, the hydraulic control system is deactuated to hold the drag bar and cutter bar in this position, at which time the latch release bail may be engaged with the latch clip 152 as previously described and as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 and the free end of the cutter bar manually pivoted upwardly to a road transport position relative to the drag bar as the gag linkage breaks upwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The cutter bar is then latched to the vehicle itself by means of the hook end (not shown) of a conventional latch rod 162 suitably hingedly connected to the mounting plate 62 and normally held thereto by a retaining clip 164 as shown in FIG- URE 2.

When it is desired to return the cutter bar to its mowing position relative to the drag bar 24, it is only necessary to detach the latch rod 162 and manually lower the cutter bar 12 to the position illustra-ted in FIGURE 5 as limited by the gag linkage which automatically returns to its locking position as aforedescribed. Thereafter, the hydraulic control system on the tractor may be operated to :actua-te the draft linkage thereof, causing the lever arm 136 -to move forwardly in FIGURE l to pivot the lift control lever counterclockwise in FIGURE which, in cooperation with :the lift and stop pin 1M, gradually lowers the drag bar 24 and the cutter bar l2 to the lowered mowing positions of FIGURE 3.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Gag linkage means adapted to be operatively connected between a mower drag bar member and a cutter bar member pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movement relative thereto; said gag linkage means comprising a pair of gag links, means operatively connecting one of said gag links to one of said members, means operatively connecting the other of said gag links to the other of said members, means pivotally interconnecting said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative connections of said gag links to said respective members, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, and stop means engageable in said locking position of said gag links to enable relative movement of the latter in one direction only toward said unlocking position.

2. In a mower or the like of the type including a drag bar adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifter transport position, and a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said drag bar for swinging movement relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position; the improvement comprising a lift control lever pivotally mounted on said drag bar, gag linkage means including a pair of gag links, means operatively pivotally connecting one of said gag links to said lift control lever, means operatively pivotally connecting the other of said gag links to the said cutter bar, means pivotally interconnecting said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative pivotal connections thereof respectively to said lift control lever and said cutter bar, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, stop means on said drag bar engageable with said lift control lever upon pivotal movement of the latter to a predetermined extent in one direction whereby, with said gag linkage means in said locking position thereof and said stop means `engaging said lift control lever, said cutter bar in said lowered mowing position thereof may swing upwardly relative to said drag bar to a predetermined limited extent, and with said gag linkage means in said unlocking position thereof said cutter bar may be swung relative to said drag bar to said lifted road transport position, and selectively adjustable lift control means connected to said lift control lever to control pivotal movement of the latter relative to said drag bar as limited in said one direction by said stop means, said control means being selectively adjustable with said lift control lever in engagement with said stop means to control movement of said drag bar between said lowered mowing and lifted transport positions thereof.

3. In the combination of-a wheeled vehicle and a mower or the like including a drag bar pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transport position, and a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said drag bar; the improvement comprising a lift control lever pivotally mounted on said drag bar, gag linkage means operatively interconnecting said lift control lever and said cutter bar to position the latter relative to said drag bar, stop means on said drag bar engageable with said lift control lever upon pivotal movement of the latter to a predetermined `extent in one direction, and selectively adjustable lift control means operatively connected between said vehicle and said lift control lever to control pivotal movement of the latter relative to said drag bar as limited in said one direction by said stop means, said control means being selectively adjustable with said lift control lever in engagement with said stop means to control movement of said drag bar between said lowered mowing and lifted transport positions thereof.

4. In a mower or the like of the type including a drag bar adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle `for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transport position, and a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said drag bar; the improvement comprising a lift control lever pivotally mounted on said drag bar, gag linkage means operatively interconnecting said lift control lever and cutter bar to position the latter relative to said drag bar, stop means on said drag bar engageable with said lift control lever upon pivotal movement of the latter to a predetermined extent in one direction, and selectively adjustable lift control means connected to said lift control lever to control pivotal movement of the latter relative to said drag bar as limited in said one direction by said stop means, said control means being selectively adjustable with said lift control lever in engagement with said stop means to control movement of said drag bar between said lowered mowing and lifted transport positions thereof.

5. The mower or the like according to claim 4 wherein said lift control means includes a pair of relatively reciprocable members, and spring means acting between said members in any selected adjusted position of said lift control means to continuously urge said members in one direction relative to each other and said lift control lever in said one direction thereof toward said stop means.

6. The mower or the like according to claim 5 further comprising cooperating stop means on said relatively reciprocable members limiting movement thereof in the opposite direction and movement of said lift control lever in the other direction thereof.

7. In the combination of a wheeled vehicle and a mower or the like including a drag bar pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transport position, and a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said drag bar for swinging movement relative there-to between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position; the improvement comprising a lift control lever pivotally mounted on said drag bar, gag linkage means including a pair of gag links, means including a lost motion connection operatively pivotally connecting one of said gag links to one of said lift control lever and said cutter bar, means operatively pivotally connecting the other of said gag links to the other of said lift control lever and said cutter bar, means pivotally interconnecting said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative pivotal connections thereof respectively to said lift control lever and cutter bar, stop means on said drag bar engageable with said lift control lever upon pivotal movement of the latter to a predetermined extent in one direction, whereby said cutter bar in said lowered mowing position thereof and with said gag linkage means in said locking position thereof and said stop means engaged with said lift control lever may swing upwardly relative to said drag bar to a predetermined limited extent, and with said gag linkage means in said unlocking position thereof said cutter bar member may be swung relative to said drag bar to said lifted road transport position thereof, and selectively adjustable lift control means operatively connected between said vehicle and said lift control lever to control pivotal movement of the latter relative to said drag bar as limited in said one direction by said stop means, said control means being selectively adjustable with said lift control lever in engagement with said stop means to l l control movement of said drag bar between said lowered mowing and lifted transport positions thereof.

8. Gag linkage means adapted to be operatively connected between a mower drag bar member and a cutter bar member pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movement relative thereto; said gag linkage means comprising a pair of gag links, means operatively connecting one of said gag links to one of said members, means operatively connecting the other of said gag links to the other of said members, means pivotally interconnecting said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative connections of said gag links to said respective members, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, and latch means operable between said ygag links to control movement of the latter between said positions thereof.

9. Gag linkage means adapted to be operatively connected between a mower drag bar member and a cutter bar member pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movement relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position; said gag linkage means comprising a pair of gag links, means operatively pivotally connecting one end of one of said gag links to one of said members, means operatively pivotally connecting one end of the other of said gag links to the other of said members, means pivotally interconnecting the other ends of said gag links for movement betwen locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative pivotal connections of said gag links to said respective members, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, whereby said cutter bar member in said lowered mowing position thereof and with said gag linkage means in said locking position thereof may swing upwardly relative to said drag bar to a predetermined limited extent, and with said gag linkage means in said unlocking position thereof said cutter bar member may be swung upwardly relative to said drag bar member to said lifted road transport position, and stop means carried respectively by said gag links and being cooperably engagea'ble in said locking position thereof to prevent further movement of said gag links in any direction other than towards said unlocking position thereof.

10. The gag linkage means according to claim 9 further comprising latch means operable between said gag links to control movement of the latter between said positions thereof.

lll, Gag linkage means adapted to be operatively connected between a mower drag bar member and a cutter y bar member pivotally mounted thereon for swinging movement relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position; said gag linkage means comprising a pair of gag links, means operatively pivotally connecting one end of one of said gag links to one of said members, means operatively pivotally connecting one end of the other of said gag links to the other of said members, means pivotally interconnecting the other ends of said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking position relative to the operative pivotal connections of said `gag links to said respective members, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, whereby said cutter bar member in said lowered mowing position thereof and with said gag linkage means in said locking position thereof may swing upwardly relative to said drag bar to a predetermined limited extent, and with said gag linkage means in said unlocking position thereof said cutter bar member may be swung upwardly relative to said drag bar member to said lifted road transport position, a yieldable latch clip mounted on one of said gag links and normally engaging the other of said gag links to bias said gag links to said locking position thereof, and a latch release member mounted on the other of said gag links and selectively engageable with said latch clip to bias the latter out of engagement with said other gag link to permit movement of said gag links to said unlocking position thereof.

12. The gag linkage means according to claim 11 wherein said latch release member is freely movably mounted on said other of said gag links whereby, upon movement of said gag links to said unlocking position thereof, said latch release member is automatically freely movable from engagement was said latch clip to a position preventing engagement therewith upon subsequent movement of said gag links to said locking position thereof.

13. The gag linkage means according to claim 11 further comprising stop means carried respectively by said gag links and being cooperably engageable in said locking ing position thereof under the inuence of said latch clip.

14. In a mower or the like of the type including a drag bar member adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transport position, and a cutter bar member pivotally mounted on said drag bar member for swinging movement relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position; the improvement comprising selectively adjustable lift control mechanism connected to said drag bar member and said cutter bar member to control swinging movement thereof in substantial unison between said positions of said drag bar member and including gag linkage means, said gag linkage means comprising a pair of gag links, means operatively connecting one of said gag links to one of said members, means operatively connecting the other of said gag links to the other of said members, means pivotally interconnecting said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative connections of said gag links to said respective members, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, and stop means engageable in said locking position of said gag links to enable relative movement of the latter in one direction only toward said unlocking position.

15. In a mower or the like of the type including a drag bar member adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transport position, and a cutter lbar member pivotally mounted on said drag bar member for swinging movement relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position; the improvement comprising selectively adjustable lift control mechanism connected to said drag bar member and said cutter bar member to control swinging movement thereof in substantial unison between said positions of said drag bar member and including gag linkage means, said gag linkage means comprising a pair of gag links, means operatively connecting one of said gag links to one of said members, means operatively connecting the other of said gag links to the other of said members, means pivotally interconnecting said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative connections of said gag links to said respective members, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, whereby said cutter bar member in said lowered mowing position thereof and with said gag linkage means in said locking position thereof may swing relative to said drag bar members to a predetermined limited extent, and with said gag linkage means in said unlocked position thereof said cutter bar member may be swung relative to said drag bar members to said lifted road transport position, a yieldable latch clip mounted on one of said gag links and normally engaging the other of said gag links to bias said gag links to said locking position thereof, and a latch release member freely pivotally mounted on the other of said gag links and selectively engageable with said latch clip to bias the latter out of engagement with said other of said gag links to permit movement of said gag links to said unlocking position thereof, said re- 13 lease member upon movement of said gag links to said unlocking position thereof being freely automatically movable from engagement with said latch clip to a position preventing engagement therewith upon subsequent movement of said gag links to said locking position thereof.

16, The mower or the like according to claim 15 further comprising stop means carried respectively by said gag links and being coopera'bly engageable in said locking position thereof under the influence of said latch clip.

17. In a mower or the like of the type including a drag bar adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle for swinging movement between a lowered mowing position and a lifted transportion position, and a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said drag bar for swinging movement relative thereto between a lowered mowing position and a lifted road transport position; the improvement comprising a lift control lever pivotally mounted on said drag bar, gag linkage means including a pair of gag links, means operatively pivotally connecting one of said gag links to said lift control lever, means operatively pivotally connecting the `other of said gag links to said cutter bar, means pivotally interconnecting said gag links for movement between locking and unlocking positions relative to the operative pivotal connections thereof respectively to said lift control lever and said cutter bar, one of said connecting means including a lost motion connection, stop means on said drag bar engageable with said lift control lever upon pivotal movement of the latter to a predetermined extent in one direction whereby, with said gag linkage means in said locking position thereof and said stop means engaging said lift control lever, said cutter bar in said lowered mowing position thereof may swing upwardly relative to said drag bar to a predetermined limited extent, and with said gag linkage means in said unlocking position thereof said cutter 'bar may be swung relative to said drag bar to said lifted road transport position, selectively adjustable lift control means connected to said lift control lever to control pivotal movement of the latter relative to said drag bar as limited in said one direction by said stop means, said control means being selectively adjustable with said lift control lever in engagement with said stop means to control movement of said drag bar between said lowered mowing and lifted transport positions thereof, said lift control means including a pair of relatively reciprocable members, and spring means acting between said members in any selected adjusted position of said lift control means to continuously urge said members in one direction relative to each other and said lift control lever in said one direction thereof toward said stop means.

18. The mower or the like according to claim 17 further comprising cooperating stop means on said relatively reciprocable members limiting movement thereof in the opposite direction and movement of said lift control lever in the other direction thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 47,691 5/ 1865 Bartlett 56-284 131,134 9/1872 Sweeney `'5G-287 134,531 l/l873 Farrington 56--286 241,269 5/1881 Adriance 56--284 528,304 lO/ 1894 Pridmore 5 6-281 2,518,317 8/1950 Hilblom 56-25 2,699,025 1/1955 Goss 56-25 2,786,319 3/1957 Happe et al. 56-25 2,822,654 2/ 1958 Elfes et al. 56--25 3,043,074 7/ 1962 Christie et al. 56-25 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL R. KINSEY, Examiner. 

1. GAS LINKAGE MEANS ADAPTED TO BE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN A MOWER DRAG BAR MEMBER AND A CUTTER BAR MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREON FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO; SAID GAG LINKAGE MEANS CONPRISING A PAIR GAG LINKS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING ONE OF SAID GAG LINKS TO ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE OTHER OF SAID GAG LINKS TO THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS, MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID GAG LINKS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING POSITIONS RELATIVE THE OPERATIVE CONNECTIONS OF SAID GAG LINKS TO SAID RESPECTIVE MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING A LOST MOTION CONNECTION, AND STOP MEANS ENGAGEABLE IN SAID LOCKING POSITION OF SAID GAG LINKS TO ENABLE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY TOWARD SAID UNLOCKING POSITION. 